Frequently asked questions on coming to Auroville

Q. Does one need a visa to come to India/Auroville?

A. Citizens of most countries worldwide are required to obtain a visa to visit India. This is normally a Tourist Visa. However, anyone wanting to stay on in Auroville and join the community must come to India on an Entry Visa, as Tourist Visas cannot be extended beyond 6 months or converted to an Entry Visa inside India.

Q. Is an authorization needed for visiting Auroville ?

No particular formality is requested for coming and visiting Auroville.You just address yourself to the Visitors' Centre and from there you'll get indications and information. Also free passes for accessing the Matromandir gardens viewpoint are given here. A reservation (free but to be made in advance) is needed for a guided tour of the Matrimandir and the inner chamber. More details here.

Q. How does one get to Auroville from abroad?

A. A number of major airlines fly in to Madras/Chennai, the nearest major airport handling international flights. These include (alphabetically) Air India, Air Lanka, British Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar, Sabena, Saudi Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Other package deals with less-known airlines may also be possible.
From Madras/Chennai, it is best to take a taxi direct from the airport to Auroville, though there are also buses available to Pondicherry from where one can take a taxi or autorickshaw.
If you have arranged accommodation beforehand, a taxi can be sent to pick you up from the airport.

A. Yes, in the sense that no rents are paid, but 'no' in the sense that there is a rampant housing shortage and no-one should come to Auroville expecting that they can move into accommodation provided by the community. Anyone joining Auroville is expected to build their own place, in consultation with the Auroville Development Group, once they have been accepted as an Aurovilian. Meanwhile, they may be housed in 'Newcomer' units or be expected to stay in guest accommodation or with friends.
Frankly, it's not easy to find accommodation in Auroville at the present time, and anyone planning to come here is advised to consider the above alternatives carefully before coming. Especially in the case of families we strongly advise that at least one parent comes to see and arrange things beforehand.

Special facilitations ans basic accommodation are provided for long-time volunteers.

Q. Having built a house in Auroville, what right of occupation does one have?

A. As long as one remains an Aurovilian, the right of the person who constructed the house to live in it is respected by the community, likewise the right of that person's children to continue to occupy the house after the parent's demise or departure from Auroville. Only in the case of someone leaving Auroville for a period of 5 years or longer, and thus losing their Aurovilian status, does the right of occupation officially cease; though sometimes the original constructor can re-occupy if no-one else has established a better right on the basis of long term occupancy or greater need in the meantime.